Giants drop third straight as offense sputters in 23-16 loss to Packers

The New York Giants traveled to Green Bay on Sunday night to take on the Packers at Lambeau Field. And before they even took the field, they made a suspect decision: they won the coin toss and deferred.

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After giving Aaron Rodgers & Co. the ball to start, the Giants defense cracked immediately, allowing a 16-play drive that included four third down conversations before Jordy Nelson hauled in a short touchdown pass.

With half of the first quarter gone, the Packers took a 7-0 lead.

After forcing the Giants to punt on the subsequent series, the Packers would again drive the ball down the field and put it into the endzone. However, off-setting penalties would give New York new life, which was capitalized on when cornerback Janoris Jenkins hauled in an interception for the team’s first defensive takeaway of the season.

Ultimately, the Giants’ offense couldn’t make anything of it as Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart were hit drive-killing penalties. To cap it off, Roger Lewis was then flagged on the punt, which Brad Wing had dropped inside the 20.

After stopping the Packers offense, the Giants had another opportunity with good field position. An Odell Beckham Jr. drop slowed the drive, but Josh Brown eventually connected on a 47-yard field goal to bring the game within 7-3.

Unfortunately for the Giants, they would the lose cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Eli Apple to groin injuries (DRC would eventually return), which opened things up for Green Bay. And with no one to stop Aaron Rodgers, he’d drive the Packers 80 yards down the field in five plays, eventually connecting with Davante Adams for a 29-yard score.

After a three-and-out by the Giants, Janoris Jenkins would again come to the rescue, undercutting a Davante Adams route to haul in his second interception of the game. But the struggling Giants offense couldn’t get out of their own way, faltering on three consecutive plays, ultimately settling for a second Josh Brown field goal to trim the score to 14-6.

The Giants defense would get the offense the ball back with just under 2:00 remaining in the second quarter, but Eli Manning would miss a wide open Will Tye for a walk-in touchdown and then fumble on the very next play. As time expired in the first half, Green Bay would go up 17-6 on a 44-yard field goal courtesy of Mason Crosby.

After trading punts to start the third quarter, Ben McAdoo switched up the play calling and began to really spread the ball around. It would lead the Giants into the red zone where their season-long struggles would rear their ugly head again. Following a sack of Eli Manning, the Giants would once again be forced to settle for a Josh Brown field goal.

The two teams would share another punt exchange before Aaron Rodgers led a nine-play, 65-yard drive that carried over into the fourth quarter. Although the Giants defense would stiffen, Mason Crosby would split the upright on a 33-yard field goal to increase Green Bay’s lead to 20-9.

One series later, the Packers would again find themselves deep in Giants territory, and once again, the New York defense would hold them out of the endzone. Green Bay would settle for a third Mason Crosby field goal and a 23-9 lead with under 7:00 remaining.

With Packers going into prevent defense, the Giants would finally break out with their best offensive drive of the game. They would go 10 plays and 65 yards before Eli Manning connected with Odell Beckham Jr., who did a tremendous job getting his feet down in bounds, for the touchdown.

It’s was too little, too late however. The Packers would but the final candle on the cake, converting one last third down following a Trevin Wade slip. All that remaining was running out the clock.

With the loss, the Giants fall to 2-3 on the season after a 2-0 start. They host the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

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